KUWAIT CITY, April 8: With the approach of the summer season, the French Ambassador to Kuwait Claire Le Fleischer announced the start of receiving new visa applications for Kuwaitis and residents who wish to travel to France, reports Al-Qabas daily.

She affirmed that France is one of the favorite tourist destinations for Kuwaitis.

Ambassador Le Fleischer explained the procedures and preparations for the summer travel season.

She called on everyone to submit applications as early as possible, within a period of up to six months before travel and at least 15 days in advance in order to avoid delays in processing the application, especially since the volume of visa applications increases with the approach of high season.

Ambassador Le Fleischer explained that more than 40,000 visa applications were received during the year 2022, which is the same level as 2019. It is expected that the volume of applications will increase during this year with the advent of the summer season.

She also urged the need to ensure the application file is submitted with all the required documents to avoid any rejection, adding that all information about visas is available on the France-visas website, and all applications must be submitted to Capago.

Ambassador Le Fleischer renewed her warning against dealing with offices and travel agencies or intermediaries who do not comply with the instructions of the embassy, as they abuse the visa procedures, set excessively high rates for visa-related services, and sell appointments, as it happened previously.

She insisted that “Capago is the only official visa center for the embassy."

Regarding the domestic labor visas and the fees imposed by France on domestic workers accompanying their sponsors, Ambassador Le Fleischer explained that visas can be requested for domestic workers who accompany their employers on holidays for a stay of less than 90 days.

When submitting the application, the owner of the transaction (the sponsor) will be required to provide documents proving the contractual bond between the employer and the employee (domestic workers who fall under the rule of Article 20) and that they will travel together.

It is very important for the maid or domestic worker to travel with her sponsor, and not separately, as she is allowed to enter France through them.

The ambassador said, "During their stay in France, employers must respect French labor law that stipulates the obligation to pay the minimum wage, which currently stands at 10.18 euros net per hour. After the stay, employers are expected to pay social insurance fees as per the above to hire their employee (the domestic worker). These payments can be made online.

When a Kuwaiti owns a property in France, he needs to pay local property taxes. This is what Kuwaitis have done and adhered to for a long time. Kuwaitis have no problem following and understanding French laws."

The French ambassador stressed the need to be careful against manipulating visas or dealing with any offices, travel agencies or intermediaries that do not comply with the instructions of the embassy.

She affirmed that every employer must prove the number of working hours of the domestic worker in the form that is filled out via the Internet to pay the taxes that will go to the government of France.

Details of domestic worker insurance fees -

1. €10.18 per hour
2. €30.54 for three hours
3. €71.26 for seven hours (full day)